Category Archives: Sourcebooks Landmark

April 3, 2019 · 11:58 pm

Review: Little Lovely Things by Maureen Joyce Connolly

Title: Little Lovely Things by Maureen Joyce Connolly
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense
Length: 304 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

If only things had been different

It is the wrong time to get sick. Speeding down the highway on the way to work, her two little girls sleeping in the back seat, medical resident Claire Rawlings doesn’t have time for the nausea overtaking her. But as the world tilts sideways, she pulls into a gas station, runs to the bathroom, and passes out. When she wakes up minutes later, her car—and her daughters—are gone.

The police have no leads, and the weight of guilt presses down on Claire as each hour passes with no trace of her girls. All she has to hold on to are her strained marriage, a potentially unreliable witness who emerges days later, and the desperate but unquenchable belief that her daughters are out there somewhere.

As hopeful and uplifting as it is devastating, Little Lovely Things is the story of a family shattered by unthinkable tragedy, and the unexpected intersection of heartbreak and hope.

Review:

Taking place during the early to mid 1990s, Little Lovely Things by Maureen Joyce Connolly is a heartbreaking, suspenseful novel about two little girls who are kidnapped.

Almost finished with her residency, Claire Rawlings is a busy mom of two daughters, fifteen month old Lily and four year old Andrea. Husband Glen is a teacher who also coaches to  supplement the family income. While on her way to work with the girls, Claire is suddenly taken ill. Leaving her daughters asleep in the car, she dashes into the ladies’ room where she passes out.  During that brief window of time, Lily and Claire vanish.  The police immediately begin searching for the girls, but will any of their scant leads help locate them?

Native American Jay White is ready to get his life on track. While en route to the place where he hopes to start fresh, he makes a shocking discovery.   After meeting Claire, Jay feels a kinship with her and the two inexplicably remain in touch over the years.  Despite a few struggles, Jay has completely turned his life around when he meets one of  his new neighbor. When his long suppressed intuition  begins speaking to him, will Jay trust the feeling that something is not quite right with his new acquaintance?

Over the course of four long years after their daughters’ disappearance, Claire and Glen never quite get their fractured marriage back on track. Claire has never dealt with her overwhelming guilt for her daughters’ kidnapping.  As she and Glen continue to drift apart, is it too late to save their once happy marriage? And will they ever find the answers to the questions that continue to plague them about their children’s kidnapping?

Little Lovely Things is an emotional novel that is quite captivating. The characters are multi-dimensional with true to life weaknesses and realistic strengths.  The storyline is fresh and imaginative and the various settings are vibrantly developed.  Although not a traditional mystery, Maureen Joyce Connolly keeps readers on the edge of their seats as the novel hurtles to a dramatic denouement.  The conclusion is a bit abrupt yet satisfying. An outstanding debut that I truly enjoyed and highly recommend.

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Filed under Contemporary, Lovely Little Things, Maureen Joyce Connolly, Rated B+, Review, Sourcebooks Landmark, Suspense, Suzanne White

March 4, 2019 · 11:57 pm

Review: Woman 99 by Greer Macallister

Title: Woman 99 by Greer Macallister
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Genre: Historical, Suspense
Length: 368 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

She’s only a number now.

When Charlotte Smith’s wealthy parents commit her beloved sister Phoebe to the infamous Goldengrove Asylum, Charlotte knows there’s more to the story than madness. She risks everything and follows her sister inside, surrendering her real identity as a privileged young lady of San Francisco society to become a nameless inmate, Woman 99.

The longer she stays, the more she realizes that many of the women of Goldengrove aren’t insane, merely inconvenient — and that her search for the truth threatens to dig up secrets that some very powerful people would do anything to keep.

A historical thriller rich in detail, deception, and revelation, Woman 99 honors the fierce women of the past, born into a world that denied them power but underestimated their strength.

Review:

Set in 1888, Woman 99 by Greer Macallister is an insightful and poignant novel which showcases that horrors of mental institutions.

Twenty year old Charlotte Smith blames herself for her parents admitting her older sister Phoebe to Goldengrove asylum.  Following in the footsteps of reporter Nellie Bly, Charlotte devises a plan to get committed to Goldengrove in order to rescue Phoebe. The pampered daughter of a wealthy shipping magnate, Charlotte is ill-prepared for what lies ahead of her, but she is surprisingly adaptive to the situation.  She is completely shocked to discover that many of the women at Goldengrove are not mentally ill. Instead these women are shuttled off to asylums mainly because they are an inconvenience to husbands and extended families. With the odds against her, can Charlotte locate Phoebe? And if does, will she find a way to rescue both herself and her sister from Goldengrove?

Charlotte is a dutiful daughter who never goes against her parents’ wishes.  She is extremely close to Phoebe and she has never felt the need to make friends. She is fully cognizant of the fact that something is wrong with Phoebe who cycles through extreme highs and troubling lows.  Charlotte does everything she can to bring her sister out her dark depression.  And when Phoebe is not depressed, Charlotte is her willing accomplice for whatever daring adventure she is embarking upon.

Charlotte’s plan to be committed to Goldengrove is successful, but she is initially completely out of her depth. The treatment of mental illnesses at the time is crude, primitive and sometimes, quite dangerous for the patients. Charlotte suffers several indignities in her search for Phoebe but she must count on the fragile friendships she forges to accomplish her goal. Danger lurks among the staff and patients, but Charlotte never gives up trying to find, then rescue, Phoebe.

Woman 99 is an interesting novel with a unique plot and interesting characters.  The storyline is engaging, but the pacing is sometimes a little slow. Charlotte is quite reflective after she is admitted to Goldengrove and she relies on her precious memories to survive her quest. Greer Macallister’s research into asylums and various treatments for mental illness during the time period is impressive. These heartbreaking details are seamlessly incorporated into the storyline. The novel’s conclusion is satisfying although a bit unexpected. A well-written story that will resonate with readers who enjoy historically accurate fiction.

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Filed under Greer Macallister, Historical, Rated B, Review, Sourcebooks Landmark, Suspense, Woman 99

August 27, 2018 · 11:57 pm

Review: Sold on a Monday by Kristina McMorris

Title: Sold on a Monday by Kristina McMorris
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Genre: Historical (30s), Fiction
Length: 352 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

From New York Times bestselling author Kristina McMorris comes another unforgettable novel inspired by a stunning piece of history. 

2 CHILDREN FOR SALE

The sign is a last resort. It sits on a farmhouse porch in 1931, but could be found anywhere in an era of breadlines, bank runs and broken dreams. It could have been written by any mother facing impossible choices.

For struggling reporter Ellis Reed, the gut-wrenching scene evokes memories of his family’s dark past. He snaps a photograph of the children, not meant for publication. But when it leads to his big break, the consequences are more devastating than he ever imagined.

At the paper, Lillian Palmer is haunted by her role in all that happened. She is far too familiar with the heartbreak of children deemed unwanted. As the bonds of motherhood are tested, she and Ellis must decide how much they are willing to risk to mend a fractured family.

Inspired by an actual newspaper photograph that stunned the nation, Sold on a Monday is a powerful novel of love, redemption, and the unexpected paths that bring us home.

Review:

Based on a real life event, Sold on a Monday by Kristina McMorris is a heart wrenching historical novel that is poignant and thought-provoking.

Society writer Ellis Reed captures a photo that secretary Lily Palmer brings to the attention of her boss. He in turn instructs Reed to write an article to accompany the picture of the two young boys with a sign that reads “children for sale”. However, right before the article is published, the photo and negative are destroyed. When Ellis returns to the farmhouse and discovers the family has moved, he finds himself in a moral dilemma that is solved by his decision to stage a new snapshot with different children. The article captures the heart of America but Ellis remains conflicted about the second photo. Fast forward a few months and Reed is offered a new position that launches his career as a newspaper reporter. But, at the back of his mind, the fate of those two children continues to haunt him. Determined to find out how the kids and their mother are faring, Ellis is stunned by what he discovers.

Lily is a gifted writer but in 1931, journalism is a man’s field and women are often relegated to writing puff pieces. Fully cognizant of this fact, she is hoping her job as a secretary will be a stepping stone to becoming a reporter.  She  is immediately touched by Ellis’s photo but she has no idea the original photo was accidentally destroyed. As soon she learns the truth, she, too, is concerned about the fate of the family in the staged photo. Lily becomes the driving force in righting a terrible wrong but will she and Ellis uncover the truth before it is too late?

Sold on a Monday is a truly fascinating novel that is fast-paced and engaging. Ellis and Lily are realistically developed characters who are endearingly flawed yet this just adds to their appeal. Kristina McMorris paints an intriguing and heartbreaking portrait of the hardships, social stigmas and seamy underworld of the time period. Readers of the genre are sure to enjoy this wonderful story that tugs on the heartstrings.

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Filed under Contemporary, Fiction, Historical, Historical (30s), Kristina McMorris, Rated B, Review, Sold on a Monday, Sourcebooks Landmark

June 3, 2018 · 11:58 pm

Review: What Happened That Night by Sandra Block

Title: What Happened That Night by Sandra Block
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 352 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

She doesn’t remember that night. But she will never be the same.

One moment, Dahlia is a successful Harvard student; the next, she wakes up from a party, the victim of a brutal assault. Her life veers into a tailspin, and what’s worse — her memory of the attack has been ripped away, leaving a cold rage in its wayke.

Now, years later, Dahlia is a tattooed paralegal suffering from PTSD and still haunted by that night. Until one day, a video surfaces online, and Dahlia sees her attack for the first time.

Now she knows what happened to her. And she knows who is to blame. Her rage is no longer cold, but burning, red hot.

And she is about to make everyone pay.

Review:

What Happened That Night by Sandra Block is an empowering novel of healing for a victim of a horrific sexual assault.

Five years earlier, Harvard  college senior Dahlia Edelman attends a finals party where she is roofied and sexually assaulted by several men.  With only brief flashes of memories of what happened to her and angry over her treatment by the police, she eventually falls into a deep depression and leaves Harvard before graduation. With the support of her best guy pal, Eli Sawyer, Dahlia is now getting her life back on track as she completes her degree through night classes while working as a paralegal. Her life is completely upended when she discovers  someone has posted an appalling video of her sexual assault online. With the help of her friend, Daisy and her co-worker/friend James Gardner, Dahlia begins to uncover the identities of the men in the video in order to exact her revenge for the heinous and brutal assault.

Although Dahlia has not regained her memories of the night she was brutalized, she has taken many steps to regain control over her life. She still regularly talks with her counselor, she carries a weapon to protect herself and she has also taken self defense courses. Dahlia’s life is a little solitary as she mainly hangs out with Eli, works and attends classes but she has achieved a measure of peace. At a support group meeting, James catches her eye but she is still quite surprised when he seeks he out at work the next day.  Dahlia is taken off guard by how much she enjoys spending time with James, but her world is thrown into chaos after the video is posted online.

James is socially awkward and he is very literal during conversations. A computer geek, he is quite intelligent and lives a fairly quiet life with little social interaction outside of work. James immediately connects with Dahlia and although he is somewhat abrupt when he first asks her out, the two hit it off. He is angry on Dahlia’s behalf when the video surfaces and he does not hesitate to join her as she seeks out her own brand of justice against the men who assaulted her.

Dahlia’s attackers are now wealthy with successful careers  but she and James gradually figure out how to take them down. They cleverly put James’s computer skills to work and they ruthlessly set their plans in motion. Dahlia feels no remorse for what she is doing but she does have reservations about their plan for one of the men. However, when she recalls his actions on the video, she easily overcomes her hesitation.  When shocking new information comes to light about the finals group, Dahlia is unstoppable as she does everything within her power to get justice for herself and right this terrible wrong.

What Happened That Night is an absolutely riveting, emotional and suspense-laden mystery. Dahlia and James are absolutely delightful characters who are struggling to overcome the tragedies that have left powerful scars on them.  Although some of the  content is graphic, Sandra Block deftly handles these difficult topics and passages with a great deal of sensitivity. With an absolutely stunning and completely unexpected plot twist, the novel concludes on a uplifting and positive note. An absolutely brilliant read that I HIGHLY recommend to fans of the genre.

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Filed under Contemporary, Mystery, Rated B+, Review, Sandra Block, Sourcebooks Landmark, Suspense, What Happened That Night

April 30, 2018 · 11:57 pm

Review: Wicked River by Jenny Milchman

Title: Wicked River by Jenny Milchman
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense
Length: 466 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Six million acres of Adirondack forest separate Natalie and Doug Larson from civilization. For the newlyweds, an isolated backcountry honeymoon seems ideal-a chance to start their lives together with an adventure. But just as Natalie and Doug begin to explore the dark interiors of their own hearts, as well as the depths of their love for each other, it becomes clear that they are not alone in the woods.

Because six million acres makes it easy for the wicked to hide. And even easier for someone to go missing for good.

As they struggle with the worst the wilderness has to offer, a man watches them, wielding the forest like a weapon. He wants something from them more terrifying than death. And once they are near his domain, he will do everything in his power to make sure they never walk out again.

Review:

Wicked River by Jenny Milchman is an action-packed, suspenseful adventure.

After the wedding of their dreams, Natalie and Doug Larson set out on their honeymoon trip in Adirondack Park. While most people choose a relaxing vacation spot, Doug convinced Natalie that a canoe trip in the isolated wilderness is the perfect beginning for their married life. Natalie immediately has reservations about agreeing to his suggestion, but she gamely follows along. She also allows Doug to avoid answering her questions about a strange argument between his groomsmen and two strangers which took place prior to their wedding ceremony. However, Natalie soon comes to regret both of her decisions when  their idyllic honeymoon goes terribly wrong.

Despite their three year relationship, Natalie has a brief case of wedding jitters right before they exchange their vows. Shrugging off her doubts, she is excited about starting their life together although she wishes she had not agreed to their wilderness honeymoon. Doug manages to smooth over her reservations and once they begin their journey, Natalie is pleasantly surprised by her change of heart. Despite a few unusual occurrences,  their trip is going well until Doug loses a valuable piece of equipment.  His suggestion to change course is out of character, but Natalie is so relieved she does not question his decision. It is only when things begin to go so terribly wrong that Natalie realizes she needs to trust her instincts.

While initially Doug comes across as a loving new husband, there are warnings that all is not quite right with him. He shrewdly sidesteps Natalie’s questions and he effortlessly overrides the few objections she raises. Doug’s answers to her questions are evasive and Natalie is easily satisfied with his partial answers.

Wicked River is a mostly fast-paced novel although there are a few spots where the storyline drags just a bit. Natalie is a likable and sympathetic protagonist but she is much stronger than she gives herself credit for. Doug is not exactly hero material and readers might not agree with the novel’s ending. With plenty of action to propel the storyline, Jenny Milchman brings the novel to an exciting and somewhat dramatic conclusion.

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Filed under Contemporary, Jenny Milchman, Rated B, Review, Sourcebooks Landmark, Suspense, Wicked River

January 31, 2018 · 11:56 pm

Review: Friends and Other Liars by Kaela Coble

Title: Friends and Other Liars by Kaela Coble
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Genre: Contemporary, Women’s Fiction
Length: 370 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

To all my old friends:
So here you all are. Nice to see you can show up for a person once he’s dead.

When Ruby St. James returns to her hometown, it is to the grave of her old friend Danny, a member of a group that was, ten years ago, Ruby’s whole world. The crew made a pact back then: stay together, stay loyal, and stay honest. But that was before all of the lies.

Because even friends keep secrets. They just don’t stay secret for long.

Now Danny has left behind a letter for each of them, issuing one final ultimatum: share your darkest betrayal to the group, or risk it coming out in a trap he has created. When past mistakes resurface, the lines of friendship blurb, and four old friends are left trying to understand what it means to lie to the ones you love best.

Review:

Friends and Other Liars by Kaela Coble is an engrossing novel of friendship and forgiveness.

Ten years after leaving Chatwick, Vermont and never returning, Ruby St. James is back for her childhood friend, Danny Deuso’s funeral. Her reunion with her best friends from childhood through high school (dubbed “the crew) is uneasy since she cut off all contact with them when she left for college in New York.  Navigating the death of their friend is already difficult, but when Danny’s mom invites the crew back to her house for a private memorial, everyone is shaken by the letter Danny left behind. From beyond the grave, he threatens to reveal their deepest darkest secrets if they do not do so themselves. Over the next few months, they each receive unnerving messages they have no doubt are from Danny which leaves them all nervously anticipating how he will destroy their lives.

Growing up, Ruby and Danny has the most in common since their home lives are so dysfunctional.  Ruby is the person Danny turns to for comfort but Murphy is the one who provides him with a safe haven. As Danny’s life slowly implodes due to his chaotic life, Ruby and Murphy become close friends who spend long hours talking on the phone. Rounding out the group are Ally, who relies on the crew for support after her life is upended, Emmett, the serious friend who walks the straight and narrow and Aaron who becoms a defacto member after he and Ally begin dating.

Despite how closely intertwined their lives were back then, each of them have secrets that have been kept hidden from one another. Danny leaves each of his friends an envelope with their secret that he expects them to reveal. He also leaves a legacy of guilt for members of the crew since, in his opinion, they all failed him when he needed their help.

A series of flashbacks provide an insightful and thought-provoking view of their friendships and their lives. The secrets they are each keeping are cleverly concealed despite these peeks into the past and the suspense surrounding what they are hiding is propels the storyline.

A riveting debut, Friends and Other Liars is an intriguing novel that has a wonderfully unique premise. The characters are multi-layered and well-developed. Kaela Coble does a brilliant job keeping each of the secrets under wraps until the novel’s emotionally satisfying and cathartic conclusion.

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Filed under Contemporary, Friends and Liars, Kaela Coble, Rated B+, Review, Sourcebooks Landmark